FORMER PM IMRAN KHAN’S CORRUPTION CONVICTION AND THREE-YEAR JAIL TERM SUSPENDED

Tue 29 August 2023:

The Islamabad High Court has suspended former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s prison sentence for a corruption conviction.

A two-judge bench of the IHC overturned a lower-court decision imprisoning him for three years and has ordered his immediate release.

However, a special court recently established to hear cases under the Official Secrets Act has directed the Attock Jail authorities — where the former premier is incarcerated — to keep Imran in “judicial lockup” and produce him on Aug 30 (tomorrow) in connection with the cipher case.

The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document which reportedly went missing from Imran’s possession. The PTI alleges that it contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran from power. Proceedings against PTI Vice Chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the same case are also under way.

Conviction barred Khan from contesting election

As a result of the conviction which was overturned today, Khan was also barred for five years from contesting elections by the country’s election commission.

It remains to be seen whether Khan will now be allowed to contest the general election slated for later this year.

‘Keep him in judicial lockup’, fresh court order says

A special court in Islamabad, recently established to hear the cases under Official Secrets Act, has issued an order to keep Khan in detention in connection with “cypher case”, and directed authorities to present Khan in court on August 30.

A copy of the order, which was shared with Al Jazeera by Bukhari, says that the former premier has been named in the case of missing diplomatic cable and is under investigation.

“You are hereby directed to keep him in the judicial lockup and produce him on 30.08.23 before this court,” the order instructed jail authorities at Attock prison.

Imran Khan court oder

Conviction suspended not terminated, Shehbaz Sharif says

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has slammed the Islamabad court’s order, saying Khan’s conviction was suspended and not terminated.

“When everyone knows what the decision will be before it is announced, it should be a matter of concern for the justice system. If a clear message is delivered by a higher court, what other choice does a subordinate court have?” Sharif wrote in Urdu on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Rearrest possible in nine cases: Spokesperson

Hasan, Khan’s spokesperson, said he fears the former PM could be rearrested.

“Khan can be rearrested in nine cases where he was denied bail as he was in prison,” he said, explaining that Khan could not present himself in court while being “incarcerated”.

“Instead of summoning him, the judges said we are denying the bail until such a time he appears before the court,” Hasan said.

“He can potentially be rearrested but we are hoping the state does not do it on the basis of this technicality.”

Toshakhana case

The case, filed by lawmakers of the then coalition government, was based on a criminal complaint filed by the ECP.

The case alleged that Imran had “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana — a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept — during his time as the prime minister and proceeds from their reported sales.

According to Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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